Bhopal: One smoker, two tobacco chewers undergoing checkup due to fear of Cancer risk

BHOPAL: Fear of cancer is compelling smokers and tobacco users, including women to get themselves diagnosed of the risk in the state capital. Women smokers are among the visitors to cancer hospital here to allay the fear of the impending danger. With the tobacco use rapidly increasing, every day one smoker and two tobacco chewers are getting themselves diagnosed at the cancer hospital. Dr Shyam Agarwal, Oncologist at Navodaya Cancer hospital said that the hospital has seen a rise in number of patients in last few months. Smoking among youngsters has seen a rise and girls are not behind in taking up this habit, said Dr Agarwal. “On an average, every day at least one smoker is undergoing diagnosis fearing cancer, worryingly the youths are in good number and importantly girls are among them,” the concerned doctor told Free Press.

Adolescents and youths living away from home, in hostels and paid accommodations are falling to smoking. “The loneliness and having no fear of being watched, are promoting smoking consumption among them,” he added. Speaking about the evils of tobacco and cigarettes, Agarwal said it can lead to many types of cancer, including that of the lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, oesophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon and rectum, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukaemia. People who are into smoking and tobacco consumption are coming to hospital for checkup normally when they feel some problem in throat or in breathing. The girls or the women who are coming for the diagnoses are keen to know if smoking and tobacco consumption would have any impact on childbearing. “ They are informed that smoking makes it harder for a woman to get pregnant. A pregnant smoker is at higher risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pre-mature delivery with an abnormally low birth weight, and having baby born with a cleft lip and or cleft palate,” the doctor said. The set of people who use smokeless tobacco snuff or chew tobacco have increased risks of cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, and pancreas. “On an average every day around two such people are coming for the diagnose, among them most of them are of workers, shop owners, house wives and others”. After the diagnoses many of them are taking the help of de-addiction clinics to quit tobacco, informed Agarwal.

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